Norway in a Nutshell tour
Oct 19th, 2004, 07:24 AM
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Norway in a Nutshell tour
I am looking for some feedback on the Norway in a Nutshell tours. Is it best to spend a night somewhere along the way? We would most likely take the route from Oslo to Bergen.
Any advice on booking via directly through the internet or using an agent to book?
Thanks!
Any advice on booking via directly through the internet or using an agent to book?
Thanks!
Oct 19th, 2004, 08:49 AM
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Did the trip last summer. Was great. You can email me if you'd like [email protected]. Only have time for a quick comment, but will write more later. We did it all in one day, Oslo to Bergen. If I could do it again, and had the time, I'd spend the night at the Stalheim hotel, about half way thru the day. I'm sure you'll hear from other posters that have stayed there. We stopped there for a 15 minute bathroom break.
EK
EK
Oct 19th, 2004, 08:55 AM
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I'd book in Norway at the Oslo or Bergen train stations. I stayed in Bergen and did it as a day trip from there (train Bergen-Voss (Knute Rockne buried in cemetery near station)mountain bus Voss-Gudvagen, boat 2.5 hrs on fjord to Flam - truly awesome boat ride then narrow-gauge train to Mydrhal, train back to Bergen. Can also be done in reverse, train Myrdhal first, etc. Any reservations necessary can be done when you buy the component tickets in Bergen. some trains require reservations but apparently the bus or boat do not. You can buy Norway Nutshell tickets marketed in US by RailEurope but these may cost more than buying in Norway. RailEurope's nutshell 'tours' are not tours in the guided tour sense i think, but just the component tickets.
Oct 31st, 2004, 04:58 AM
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jke: I definately would spend a night in the fjord area. You have several choices along the Oslo-Bergen nutshell legs: 1) Fretheim Hotel in Flam, if you prefer crowdyness and pubs and discos.
2) Some place in Aurland. More quiet than Flam, and definately more pittoresque. But check out wether the Flam-Gudvangen ferry stops there, otherwise you'll have some miles to go by local bus or taxi from Flam.
3) Stalheim hotel uphill from Gudvangen. You'll reach it within 15 minutes by the Gudvangen-Voss bus, and you'll experience the steep Stalheim road and you'll have a marvellous stay with a fantastic view from the hotel. Bus takes you to Voss next morning where the train (local) takes you to Bergen.
Stalheim is a TOP pick!!
The Oslo-Bergen train leg needs seat reservation, which should cost not more than 40NKR (some 5 - 6 USD). Seems like several US agencies may double or even tendouble this fee.
I'd contact the NSB (Norwegian Rail Company http://www.nsb.no) Some years ago there was no possibilities to reserve seats and tickets from abrod, but I guess that has been changed by now. Anyway, the pages contain specific info on all the Nuthshell options. However, tickets can be purchased at any major train station, and my best guess is that the chance for NSB to run out of seats is small, except for the main holidays and special week-ends. My advice: Give NSB a call, they will answer you in English.
And make your hotel booking direct to the hotel. Stalheim: http://www.stalheim.com
At last, when to travel:
Take the early morning train from Oslo. It used to be around 8:11. Later trains will force you to stay at Flam, due to the Flam-Gudvangen ferry schedule. With the morning train you'll have plenty of time, and the ferry leaves Flam at 3. In June that is perfect, and on arriving Gudvangen at 5 after a hopefully magnificent fjord cruise, the bus(es) wait for you to take you further. And if I were you, my next stop will be Stalheim
God tur!! (Bon voyage, have a great travel etc...)
Bjorn, Oslo
2) Some place in Aurland. More quiet than Flam, and definately more pittoresque. But check out wether the Flam-Gudvangen ferry stops there, otherwise you'll have some miles to go by local bus or taxi from Flam.
3) Stalheim hotel uphill from Gudvangen. You'll reach it within 15 minutes by the Gudvangen-Voss bus, and you'll experience the steep Stalheim road and you'll have a marvellous stay with a fantastic view from the hotel. Bus takes you to Voss next morning where the train (local) takes you to Bergen.
Stalheim is a TOP pick!!
The Oslo-Bergen train leg needs seat reservation, which should cost not more than 40NKR (some 5 - 6 USD). Seems like several US agencies may double or even tendouble this fee.
I'd contact the NSB (Norwegian Rail Company http://www.nsb.no) Some years ago there was no possibilities to reserve seats and tickets from abrod, but I guess that has been changed by now. Anyway, the pages contain specific info on all the Nuthshell options. However, tickets can be purchased at any major train station, and my best guess is that the chance for NSB to run out of seats is small, except for the main holidays and special week-ends. My advice: Give NSB a call, they will answer you in English.
And make your hotel booking direct to the hotel. Stalheim: http://www.stalheim.com
At last, when to travel:
Take the early morning train from Oslo. It used to be around 8:11. Later trains will force you to stay at Flam, due to the Flam-Gudvangen ferry schedule. With the morning train you'll have plenty of time, and the ferry leaves Flam at 3. In June that is perfect, and on arriving Gudvangen at 5 after a hopefully magnificent fjord cruise, the bus(es) wait for you to take you further. And if I were you, my next stop will be Stalheim
God tur!! (Bon voyage, have a great travel etc...)
Bjorn, Oslo
